Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has prayed God to bless Nigeria with special people in the mould of the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme to make Nigeria a better nation than it is.
Atiku made the prayer in his tribute to Ekwueme, Nigeria’s Second Republic vice president who died in a London hospital on November 19, 2017 at the age of 85.
He described Ekwueme as a gem who had played vital roles in the development of the country, particularly, in the return to democracy after the military took over governance for a long time.
“It should be noted that the efforts put into national mobilisation and party building made it possible for the then military administration in Nigeria to hand over power to a civilian government.
“This is because the country’s political leadership, under the direction and guidance of late Dr. Ekwueme, late Major-General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and others, presented a united and disciplined group that genuinely represented and mirrored the political aspirations and readiness of Nigerians for democratic rule,” he said.
He also described Ekwueme as one who never played politics of bitterness.
He said even though Ekwueme contested for the presidential ticket of the PDP for the 1999 presidential election and lost, he was never for once a bitter man.
Atiku said his type remained uncommon.
According to him, “there are few Nigerian politicians of the mould of late Dr. Ekwueme who play politics without bitterness in a clime such as ours where reckless political deals and betrayals tend to be common.”
He added that whenever there were problems in the then ruling party, the PDP until 2015, and there were many instances, it was always to the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme that the PDP and most political leaders in the country reverted to seek solution.
He said he had never disappointed in that regard as he “always delivered and ensured that the problems were nipped in the bud.”
Abubakar stated further: “Suffice it to say that late Dr. Alex Ekwueme was a man of many parts, the likes of whom are very rare and the type that societies that crave for progress and development, hanker after.
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“He unequivocally can be referred to as one of the best presidents that Nigeria never had, bearing in mind that on about three occasions beginning from 1999, the great Ide sought to govern his beloved country.
“Dr. Alex Ekwueme is one man who leaves anyone he has met with a good and lasting impression the way he has left a lasting impression and indelible footprints in Nigerian politics and society.
“He will undoubtedly be sorely missed especially at a time like this when many issues on which he stood and fought, including national integration and a viable and genuine federal structure, remain unresolved.
“In fact, one way to immortalise this great politician and statesman would be for all Nigerians to visit, in good faith, the issue of political restructuring and devolution of powers which the great Alex stood for before his sudden death. I believe this will make him turn with joy where he is and bless the country.”
